Lecture XV.—Page [388]
Philosophical examination of the electoral system in England in the fourteenth century.
The system was the natural result of facts.
Who were the electors?
Four principles which determine the solution of this question.
Lecture XVI.—Page [401]
Subject of the lecture.
Continuation of the philosophical examination of the electoral system in England in the fourteenth century.
Characteristics of the elections.
Examination of the principle of direct or indirect election.
Lecture XVII.—Page [418]
Origin of the division of the English Parliament into two Houses.
Its original constitution.
Reproduction of the classifications of society in the Parliament.
Causes which led the representatives of counties to separate from the barons, and coalesce with the representatives of boroughs.
Effects of this coalition.
Division of the Parliament into two Houses in the fourteenth century.
Lecture XVIII.—Page [425]
Examination of the division of the legislative power into two Houses.
Diversity of ideas on this subject.
Fundamental principle of the philosophic school.
Source of its errors.
Characteristics of the historic school.
Cause of the division of the British Parliament into two Houses.
Derivation of this division from the fundamental principle of representative government.
Its practical merit.
Lecture XIX.—Page [448]
Power and attributes of the British Parliament in the fourteenth century.
At its origin, and subsequent to its complete development, the Parliament retained the name of the Great Council of the kingdom.
Difference between its attributes and its actual power at these two epochs.
Absorption of almost the entire government by the Crown; gradual resumption of its influence by the Parliament.